EP0132944B1

EP0132944B1 - Antibacterial homoerythromycin a derivatives and intermediates therefor

Info

Publication number: EP0132944B1
Application number: EP84304185A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gene Michael Bright
Original assignee: Pfizer Inc
Current assignee: Pfizer Inc
Priority date: 1983-06-30
Filing date: 1984-06-21
Publication date: 1986-12-30
Also published as: JPS6025998A; IE841665L; US4464527A; DK319884D0; DK158357C; DK158357B; DE3461805D1; GR79536B; IE57564B1; DK319884A; EP0132944A1

Description

This invention relates to novel derivatives of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A, to intermediates therefor and to processes for their preparation. More particularly it relates to 9a-ethyl and 9a-n-propyl derivatives of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A, to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof and the use of said compounds as antibacterial agents, to intermediates therefor, and to processes for their preparation.
Erythromycin A is a macrolide antibiotic produced by fermentation and described in U.S. Patent No 2 653 899. Numerous derivatives of erythromycin A have been prepared in efforts to modify its biological and/or pharmacodynamic properties. Erythromycin A esters with mono- and dicarboxylic acids are reported in Antibiotics Annual, 1953-1954, Proc. Symposium Antibiotics (Washington, D.C.), pages 500-513 and 514-521, respectively. U.S. Patent No 3 417 077 describes the cyclic carbonate ester of erythromycin A, the reaction product of erythromycin A and ethylene carbonate, as an active antibacterial agent.
U.S. Patent 4 328 334, issued May 4, 1982 describes 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A and refers to it by the name 11-aza-10-deoxo-10-dihydroerythromycin A. Since said compound is a ring expanded (homo) derivative of erythromycin A, nitrogen (aza) being the additional atom of the ring system, the nomenclature 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A is preferred for the parent ring system of the compounds of this invention.
Belgian Patent 892 357, published July 1, 1982, and its British counterpart, Application 2 094 293A, published September 15, 1982, disclose the N-methyl derivative of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A, as does co-pending European Application No 83 304 090.0. The 4"-epimer of said N-methyl derivative is the subject of co-pending European Application No 83 306 815.8. The co-pending European Application No 84 303 295.4 claims cyclic ether derivatives of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A and its 4"- epimer.
U.S. Patent 4 382 085, issued May 3, 1983 describes 4"-epi erythromycin A ; i. e., the 4"-OH group has the axial configuration. The 4"-OH in erythromycin A has the equatorial configuration.
It has now been found that 9a-ethyl and 9a-n-propyl derivatives of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoeryt- hromycin A are effective antibacterial agents against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The compounds have the formula (I)
wherein n is 1 or 2.
Also included in this invention, and useful for the same purpose as formula (I) compounds, are the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. included among said salts, but by no means limited to said salts, are those enumerated below : hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate, phosphate, formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, citrate, glycolate, lactate, tartrate, malate, maleate, fumarate, gluconate, stearate, mandelate, pamoate, benzoate, succinate, lactate, p-toluenesulfonate and asparate.
The present invention also embraces processes and intermediates useful for the preparation of compounds of formula (I). The intermediates are represented by formula (II) below :
wherein Y is -NHCHO or
The first process for preparing a compound of formula (I) wherein n is 2 comprises reacting a compound of formula (II) wherein Y is
with tri-n-butyl tin hydride and azobisisobutylnitrile in a reaction-inert solvent at a reaction temperature of about 125°C. The preferred solvent is xylene.
The other process of this invention leading to a compound of formula (I) wherein n is 1 comprises reacting a compound of the formula
with

(a) aqueous acetaldehyde in the presence of hydrogen and palladium-on-charcoal in a reaction-inert solvent, wherein the preferred solvent is ethanol, or alternately,
(b) acetaldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydride in a reaction-inert solvent at a pH of about 5.9, wherein the preferred solvent is methanol.

Also within the scope of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibacterial amount of a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutical carrier.
Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof are effective antibacterial agents againts Gram-positive microorganisms, e. g. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, and against Gram-negative microorganisms, e. g. Pasturella multocida and Neisseria sicca in vitro.
Additionally, compounds of formula (I) exhibit significant activity against Neisseria gonorrhea and Haemophilus in vitro and against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms in vivo. In their useful oral activity and unexpectedly long serum half-life in mammals, the formula (I) compounds are like 9-deoxo-9a-methyl-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A, and quite unlike the corresponding 9a-desmethyl compound 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A which exhibits no practical oral activity in vivo, and a substantially shorter serum half-life.
The compound of formula (I) wherein n is 1 is prepared by the reductive alkylation of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A using aqueous acetaldehyde and hydrogen in the presence of a palladium-on-charcoal catalyst in a reaction-inert solvent.
In practice, the 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A is combined with at least a ten fold excess of acetaldehyde in a reaction solvent containing about an equal weight of 5 % palladium-on-charcoal. The resulting mixture is shaken at room temperature in a hydrogen atmosphere at an initial pressure of about 344 kPa (50 psi). Under these conditions the reaction is usually complete in about twelve to sixteen hours.
On completion of the reaction the catalyst is filtered and the product obtained by conventional means. If a purer product is desired it may be so purified by conventional means such as recrystallization or chromatography.
It is preferable to employ aqueous acetaldehyde, for example, a 37% solution of acetaldehyde in water.
The reaction-inert solvent employed in the afore-mentioned process should be one which amply solubilizes the reactants and does not react to any appreciable extent. with the starting reagents or product. In this particular process the preferred solvent is ethanol although it is appreciated that a large number of other solvents may be employed with similar results.
A second type of reductive alkylation reaction used to prepare a compound of formula (I) wherein n is 1 comprises reacting 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A with acetaldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydride in a reaction-inert solvent at a pH of about 5.9.
In practice, 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A is combined with a one hundred fold molar excess of acetaldehyde in an appropriate reaction-inert solvent, and the pH adjusted to about 5.9 with acetic acid. To the resulting mixture is added over a period of about ten minutes a five fold molar amount of sodium cyanoborohydride. If needed the pH is adjusted by the addition of acetic acid.
The preferred reaction-inert solvent, having the aforementioned characteristics for this reaction is methanol, although many other solvents can be used with similar results.
At ambient temperatures the reaction is generally complete in about sixteen to eighteen hours. Shorter reaction times are possible if the reaction temperature is raised above room temperature.
The product is obtained by means familiar to those skilled in the art. Further purification can be achieved by normal methods such as recrystallization or chromatography.
Preparation of a compound of formula (I) wherein n is 2 comprises treating a compound of formula (II) wherein Y is
with tri-n-butyl tin hydride in a reaction-inert solvent. e e
In practice, 9-deoxo-8a-(gamma-isonitrilopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromy A (II ; Y = ―N≡C) is combined with a fifty fold molar amount of tri-n-butyl tin hydride in an appropriate solvent, and the temperature raised to about 125 °C. To the hot reaction mixture is added over a period of one hour a five fold molar amount of azobisisobutylnitrile. The reaction temperature is maintained for about forty-five minutes after completion of the addition.
The preferred reaction-inert solvent for the aforedescribed process is xylene, although many other solvents can be employed with similar results.
On completion of the reaction the product is isolated by conventional means and purified by chromatographing on silica gel.
The preparation of the compound of formula (11) wherein Y is
and other necessary intermediates useful for this process are described hereafter in the examples.
Acid addition salts of the compounds of this invention are readily prepared by treating compounds having formula (I) with at least an equimolar amount of the appropriate acid in a reaction-inert solvent or, in the case of the hydrochloride salts, with pyridinium hydrochloride. Since more than one basic group is present in a compound of formula (I), the addition of sufficient acid to satisfy each basic group permits formation of polyacid addition salts. The acid addition salts are recovered by filtration if they are insoluble in the reaction-inert solvent, by precipitation by addition of a non-solvent for the acid addition salt, or by evaporation of the solvent.
A variety of Gram-positive microorganisms and certain Gram-negative microorganisms, such as those of spherical or ellipsoidal shape (cocci), are susceptible to compounds of formula (I). Their in vitro activity is readily demonstrated by in vitro tests against various microorganisms in a brain-heart infusion medium by the usual two-fold serial dilution technique. Their in vitro activity renders them useful for topical application in the form of ointments or creams, for sterilization purposes, e. g. sick room utensils ; and as industrial antimicrobials, for example, in water treatment, slime control, paint and wood preservation.
For in vitro use, e. g. for topical application, it will often be convenient to compound the selected product by methods well known in the pharmacist's art into lotions, salves, ointments, creams, or gels. For such purposes, it will generally be acceptable to employ concentrations of active ingredient of from 0.01 percent up to 10 percent by weight based on total composition. The dosage form is applied at the site of infection ad libitum, generally at least once a day.
.Additionally, formula (I) compounds of this invention are active versus Gram-positive and certain Gram-negative microorganisms in vivo via the oral and/or parenteral routes of administration in animals, including man. Their in vivo activity is more limited as regards susceptible organisms and is determined by the usual procedure which comprises infecting mice of substantially uniform weight with the test organism and subsequently treating them orally or subcutaneously with the test compound. In practice, the mice, e. g. 10, are given an intraperitoneal inoculation of suitably diluted cultures containing approximately 1 to 10 times the LD100 (the lowest concentration of organisms required to produce 100 % deaths). Control tests are simultaneously run in which mice receive inoculum of lower dilutions as a check on possible variation in virulence of the test organism. The test compound is administered 0.5 hour post-inoculation, and is repeated 4, 24 and 48 hours later. Surviving mice are held for 4 days after the last treatment and the number of survivors is noted.
When used in vivo, these novel compounds can be administered orally or parenterally, e. g. by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, at a dosage of from 1 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg of body weight per day. The favored dosage range is from 5 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day and the preferred range from 5 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg of body weight per day. Vehicles suitable for parenteral injection may be either aqueous such as water, isotonic saline, isotonic dextrose. Ringer's solution or non-aqueous such as fatty oils of vegetable origin (cotton seed, peanut oil, corn, sesame), dimethylsulfoxide and other non-aqueous vehicles which will not interfere with therapeutic efficiency of the preparation and are non-toxic in the volume or proportion used (glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol). Additionally, compositions suitable for extemporaneous preparation of solutions prior to administration may advantageously be made. Such compositions may include liquid diluents ; for example, propylene glycol, diethyl carbonate, glycerol, or sorbitol ; buffering agents, hyaluronidase, local anesthetics and inorganic salts to afford desirable pharmacological properties. These compounds may also be combined with various pharmaceutically acceptable inert carriers including solid diluents, aqueous vehicles, non-toxic organic solvents in the form of capsules, tablets, lozenges, troches, dry mixes, suspensions, solutions, elixirs and parenteral solutions or suspensions. In general, the compounds are used in various dosage forms at concentration levels ranging from 0.5 percent to 90 percent by weight of the total composition.
In all examples, the terms « vanillin/ethanol/H₃PO₄ spray and « vanillin/H₃P0₄ spray refer to a solution of 1.0 g of vanillin, 100 ml of ethanol and 100 ml of H₃P0₄.
The term « xylene refers to the commercial mixture of xylene isomers, boiling range 137-144 °C.

Example 1

9-Deoxo-9a-ethyl-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

To 10 ml of methanol was added 1.0 g (1.36 mmoles) of 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A (U.S. Patent 4,328,334) and 5.95 g (0.135 mole) of acetaldehyde, and the pH of the resulting solution adjusted to 5.95 with a 10% methanolic solution of acetic acid. To the reaction mixture was added 427 mg (6.8 mmoles) of sodium cyanoborohydride portionwise over a period of ten minutes. After a final adjustment of the pH from 6.3 to 5.9 with methanolic acetic acid, the reaction mixture was allowed to stir at ambient temperature for eighteen hours. Methylene chloride (25 ml) and water (25 ml) were added, and the pH of the well-stirred mixture was maintained at 2.4 with 1 N hydrochloric acid for twenty minutes. The organic layer was separated, combined with 25 ml of fresh water and the pH adjusted to 2.4 with 1 N hydrochloric acid. After stirring for twenty minutes the two aqueous phases the pH 2.4 treatments were combined treated with fresh methylene chloride and the pH of the mixture adjusted to 9.5 with 3N aqueous sodium hydroxide. Thje organic phase was separated_' and the aqueous layer extracted with fresh (2 x 50 ml) methylene chloride. The organic extracts (3) were combined, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give 650 mg of the crude product as a foam.
A 550 mg sample of the crude product was chromatographed on 70-230 mesh silica gel using chloroform, methanol, concentrated ammonium hydroxide (9 : 1 : 0.1, v, v, v) as the eluent. Fractions comprised of 10 ml each were collected and monitored by thin-layer chromatography using silica gel plates and methylene chloride, methanol, concentrated ammonium hydroxide (6 : 1 : 0.1, v, v, v) as the mobile phase and ethanolic vanillin-phosphoric acid spray with heat as the detection reagent. The fractions containing the product were combined and concentrated under vacuum to dryness to give 82 mg of the pure product.
Mass Spectrum : m/e 762.5 (M+), 604.4, 587.4, 446.3, 170.2 and 158.2.

Example 2

9-Deoxo-9a-ethyl-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

A solution of 15 g (20 mmoles) 9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A (U.S. Patent 4,328,334) and 30.5 ml of 37 % aqueous acetaldehyde (0.2 mole) in 150 ml of ethanol was combined with 15 g of 5 % palladium-on-charcoal (50 % water wet) and shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at an initial pressure of 50 psi (344 KPa) for sixteen hours. The catalyst was filtered and the filtrate concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The colorless residue was treated with 200 ml of methylene chloride and 200 ml of water, and the pH of the well stirred mixture adjusted to 7.5. The organic phase was separated, washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent gave 12.7 g of the crude product as a foam. The crude product was chromatographed on 70-230 mesh silica gel using methylene chloride, methanol, concentrated ammonium hydroxide (9 : 1 : 0.5, v, v, v) as the eluent. Fractions comprised of 100 ml each were collected and monitored by thin-layer chromatography using silica gel plates and chloroform, methanol, concentrated ammonium hydroxide (6 : 1 : 0.1, v, v, v) as the mobile phase. The fractions containing the product were combined and concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 2.7 g of the product as a colorless foam. The product was identical in every respect with that prepared in Example 1.
Mass Spectrum : m/e 762.5 (M+), 604.4, 587.4. 446.3. 170.2 and 158.2.

Example 3

9-Deoxo-9a-(n-propyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

A. 9-deoxo-9a-(beta-cyanoethyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

9-Deoxo-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A (1.0 g) was dissolved in 10.0 ml of acrylonitrile. The mixture was refluxed for 6 hours ; then stirred overnight at ambient temperature. The mixture was then concentrated in vacuo to a tan foam. Chromatography of the crude product on silica gel (40 g ; 70-230 mesh), eluting with a CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/concentrated NH₄0H = 10/1/0.01 solvent mixture and monitoring fractions by tic (silica gel plates : CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/concentrated NH₄0H = 6/1/0.1 eluting system; vanillin/H₃P0₄ spray indicator with heat ; Rf = 0.57), afforded 605 mg (56 % yield) of the title compound as a colorless foam.
¹H-nmr (CDCI₃) delta 2.34 [6H, s, (CH₃)₂N-], 3.33 (3H, s, cladinose CH₃0-) ; ¹³C-nmr [CDCl₃, (CH₃)₄Si internal standard] ppm 177.62 (lactone  C=O), 118.85 (―C≡N), 103.01 (C-1'), 95.91 (C-1"), 40.33 [(CH₃)₂N―].

B. 9-deoxo-9a-(gamma-aminopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

A solution of 47 g (59.6 mmole) of 9-deoxo-9a-(bela-cyanoethyi)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A in 520 ml of ethanol was combined with 47 g of Raney-Ni catalyst (50 % water-wet) and hydrogenated on a Parr apparatus at 344 kPa (50 psi) for 2.75 hours. Tic inspection (silica gel plates ; elution with CHCl₃/CH₃OH/concentrated NH₄0H = 6/1/0.01 ; vanillin/H₃P0₄ spray with heat) showed the reaction to be incomplete. The mixture was charged with 25 g of fresh catalyst, and hydrogenation at 3.52 kg/cm² (50 psi) was continued for an additional 1.25 hours. The catalyst was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to a colorless foam. The crude product was dissolved in 600 ml of ethyl acetate. The solution was stirred with 800 ml of water and the pH was adjusted to 9.5 with 6N sodium hydroxide. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to a foam. Chromatography on silica gel (800 g, 70-230 mesh) eluting with CHCl₃/CH₃OH/concentrated NH₄OH = 6/1/0.05 ; Rf = 0.15, afforded 14.7 g (31 % yield) of the pure title compound as a colorless foam.
Crystallization of a 1.1 g sample from diethyl ether gave 545 mg of colorless crystals ; m. p. 180-183°C.
¹H-nmr (CDCl₃) delta 2.30 [6H, s, (CH₃)₂N-], 3.32 (3H, s, cladinose CH₃0) ; ¹³C-nmr [CDCI₃, (CH₃)₄Si internal standard] ppm 177.01 (lactone  C=O), 102.69 (C-1'), 95.27 (C-1"), 40.33 [(CH₃)₂N―].

C. 9-deoxo-9a-(gamma-formamidopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

To a stirred solution of 3.0 g (3.8 mmoles) of 9-deoxo-9a-(gamma-aminopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoeryt- hromycin A in 25 ml of methylene chloride at 5 °C was added 370 mg (4.2 mmoles) of acetic-formic anhydride in 5 ml of methylene chloride dropwise over a period of 5 minutes. The ice bath was removed after the addition was complete, and the reaction mixture stirred at 25 °C for one hour. The reaction was shaken with an equal volume of a 10 % aqueous potassium carbonate solution. The organic phase was separated, washed with a saturated brine solution and dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo gave 3.1 g of the product as a colorless foam.
¹H-nmr (CDCl₃) delta 2.25 [6H, s, (CH₃)₂N-), 3.28 (3H, s, cladinose CH₃0-), 6.77 (1H, broad, -CONH-) and 8.15 (1H, broad, -NCHO) ; ¹³C-nmr [CDCI₃, (CH₃)₄Si internal standard) ppm 177.77 (lactone  C=0), 161.89 (-N-C=O), 103.01 (C-1'), 95.78 (C-1") and 40.30 [(CH₃)₂N-].

D. 9-deoxo-9a-(gamma-isonitrilopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

To a stirred solution of 4.6 g (5.6 mmoles) of 9-deoxo-9a-(gamma-formamidopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A in 30 ml of pyridine at 5 °C was added a solution of 2.7 g (14 mmoles) of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in 10 ml of pyridine dropwise over a period of ten minutes. The cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for seventy-five minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness under vacuum and the residue taken up in 150 ml of methylene chloride and 150 ml of water. The pH of the well stirred mixture was then adjusted to 10 with a 10 % aqueous potassium carbonate solution. The organic layer was separated, washed with water (2 x 100 ml) and then washed with a brine solution (1 x 100 ml).-After drying over anhydrous potassium carbonate the organic layer was concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give 5 g of the desired product as an amber foam.
The infra-red spectrum (CCI₄) showed absorption at 1 725 (lactone C=O) and 2140 (―N≡C) cm^-1.

E. 9-deoxo-9a-(n-propyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A

To a well stirred solution of 5 g (6.25 mmoles) of 9-deoxo-9a-(gamma-isonitrilopropyl)-9a-aza-9a-homoerythromycin A and 91 g (0.312 mole) of tri-n-butyl tin hydride in 50 ml of xylene at 125 °C was added dropwise over a period of one hour 5.12 g (31.2 mmoles) of azobisisobutylnitrile suspended in 50 ml of xylene. On completion of the addition, the reaction mixture was maintained at 125 °C for fortyfive minutes, and was then allowed to cool. Ethyl acetate (75 ml) and 75 ml of water were added to the reaction and the pH of the well stirred mixture adjusted to 4/5 with 6N hydrochloric acid. After stirring for twenty minutes the phases were separated and the organic phase stirred with 50 ml of fresh water at pH 4.5. The two aqueous extracts were combined and washed with fresh ethyl acetate (2 x 30 ml). The aqueous layer was separated, combined with 50 ml of fresh ethyl acetate and the pH of the resulting mixture adjusted to 10 with a 10 % aqueous potassium carbonate solution. The organic phase was separated. washed with water (50 ml) and a brine solution (50 ml) and dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate. Removal of the solvent under vacuum gave 3.9 g of the crude product as an amber foam.
A sample of 3.1 g of the crude product was chromatographed on 285 g of 230-400 mesh silica gel using initially 1 I of chloroform, methanol, concentrated ammonium hydroxide (96 : 3.2 : 0.3, v,v,v) as the eluent followed by chloroform, methanol, concentrated ammonium hydroxide (92 : 7.2 : 0.72, v,v,v). The fractions were monitored by thin layer chromatography using the same solvent combination as the mobile phase on silica gel plates. The fractions containing the product were combined and concentrated in vacuo to give 391 mg of the desired product as a colorless foam.
¹³C-nmr (CDCI₃) ppm 178.0 (lactone C=O), 103.28 (C-1'), 95.47 (C-1"), 84.03 (C-5), 40.43 [(CH₃)₂N-] ; Mass Spectrum : m/e 460.33, 444.33, 429.34, 402.29, 184,158 and 127.

Claims

1. A compound having the formula

or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, wherein n is 1 or 2.

2. A compound having the formula

wherein Y is -NHCHO or

3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibacterial amount of a compound as claimed in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof and pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.

4. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof for use as a medicament. particularly for use as an antibacterial agent.

5. A process for making a compound of the formula (See formula page 8)

which comprises reacting a compound of the formula

with tri-n-butyl tin hydride and azobisisobutylnitrile in a reaction-inert solvent.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the solvent is xylene.

7. A process for making a compound of the formula

with comprises reacting a compound of the formula

with aqueous acetaldehyde in the presence of hydrogen and palladium-on-charcoal in a reaction-inert solvent.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the solvent is ethanol.

9. A process for making a compound of the formula

which comprises reacting a compound of the formula

with acetaldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydride in a reaction-inert solvent.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein the reaction inert solvent is methanol.